Rally Ireland: OMV Kronos preview

OMV Kronos Citroen WRT ready for the green isle
The OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team has prepared itself for the
penultimate run to the FIA World Rally Championship, the "Rally
Ireland", at the OMV Rally Waldviertel. Not in a World Rally ...

OMV Kronos Citroen WRT ready for the green isle

The OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team has prepared itself for the
penultimate run to the FIA World Rally Championship, the "Rally
Ireland", at the OMV Rally Waldviertel. Not in a World Rally Car,
though, but the approximately 180 special stage kilometres were meant to
heighten the feeling for speed. Which makes the goal of Manfred Stohl
and Ilka Minor obvious: to score points.

Successful Ireland-dressing-rehearsal

Manfred Stohl has used his detour into the Austrian National Rally
Championship for testing. The 35-year-old OMV driver completed over 180
special stage kilometres at the OMV Rally Waldviertel in Austria with
its strong international starter field in the Natural Gas Mitsubishi
Lancer Evo IX which had been developed by himself. Even though he
did not compete in a World Rally Car it was nevertheless a suitable
preparation for the penultimate WRC assignment this year. Stohl: "One
obviously can't compare the CNG Mitsubishi to a WRC. Still, each
SS-kilometre counts. I furthermore expect similarly slippery conditions
in Ireland even though we'll compete on tarmac there. We are in a good
racing-rhythm, in any case. And that counts for a lot."

Points are possible

The Rally Ireland is a new addition to the WRC-calendar this year.
Therefore the premises are the same for all teams. A fact that is to the
advantage of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team. Thus Stohl/Minor
hope for a place among the first eight. Stohl: "After quite some time we
scored points in Japan once again. We want to repeat that in Ireland.
The harder the conditions the easier this could be for us. But we
nevertheless will have to attack from the first kilometre on. Each place
we move up in the WRC intermediate standings means a better starting
position at the Wales Rally GB. That is what we have to focus on."

Already EUR 125.790 in the OMV Move & Help account

Since this year's season of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team is
under the sign of OMV Move & Help, EUR 20 will be donated to OMV Move
& Help for each completed special stage kilometre. At the 14 WRC-runs
completed so far, Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor, Daniel Carlsson/Denis
Giraudet and recently in Germany, Spain and Corsica also Francois
Duval/Patrick Pivato have already taken in 125.790 Euro overall. In
Ireland further 6.840 Euro are at stake since Manfred Stohl will carry
the colours of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team alone. Move &
Help is the educational program by OMV for over 35.000 children and
youths in cooperation with SOS Children's Village, Caritas and UNICEF.

342 special stage kilometres on 20 special stages

The Rally Ireland will commence on Thursday (November 15) at 19.00
(local time) with the Stormont super special. 19 further special stages
with an overall length of 342,34 kilometres are scheduled from Friday to
Sunday (November 16 - 18). The overall length measures exactly 1.196,25
kilometres. The finish line will be crossed on Sunday at 14.18 (local
time) in Sligo.